Social media helps connect fans with Royals during this World Series trip

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Social media exploded Wednesday night after the Royals clinched the ALCS title to move on to the World Series.

From fans to players, everyone was posting pictures and videos of the excitement – a much different atmosphere than it was 29 years ago.

“When people got done watching those games and watching that ALCS, yeah, you turn off the TV, you’re disconnected,” said Kris Nielsen, president of the Social Media Club of Kansas City.

Not only can sports fans now interact with each other on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, but with their favorite athletes.

“It gives us a really cool opportunity to engage with the players in a way that you just couldn’t do the last time we were there,” Nielsen said. “They’re posting photos, you can share in the championship, you can be in the locker room with them. You couldn’t do that in 1985.”

Nielsen said social media gives Royals players a genuine and immediate way to connect with their fan base like never before.

“They’re regular guys outside of what they do in baseball and everything,” he said. “So it’s nice being able to reach out, ask them a question, and in a lot of cases, get answered.”

Like the time when Brandon Finnegan responded to a tweet and gave one broke fan tickets to a playoff game. Or when Eric Hosmer tweeted out an invite for all Royals fans to party with the team at McFaddens, then he and his teammates picked up the tab.

“So it’s really cool that there’s a medium for them to go out and say, ‘Hey I’m going to be there, let’s all go have a great time and celebrate what’s really special for Kansas City,’” he said.

If you want to connect with the team, below are links for the official Royals account and some player Twitter handles: